GOING TO A CAT CAFE!

Despite only being 18, I am a 56 year old batty cat lady at heart. So, when my mum told me she was taking me to Lady Dinah's Cat Emporium as a birthday treat I almost weed with excitement. Coffee, cake and cats...literally my idea of heaven.

When you tell people you're going to a cat cafe, you get a variety of responses - my dad, for example, was convinced I was going to be walking into a dingy, smelly room covered in fur and cat pee. Fortunately this wasn't the case. Lady Dinah's was lovely, clean, hygienic, happy and pretty damn magical.

After washing our hands we were shown to our table (understandably dining with cats is very popular so booking in advance is a must). In the centre of the room is a giant tree full of nooks and crannies for the cats to climb all over and sleep in with tables arranged around the edge of the room. My mum and I had the unlimited vegetarian high tea (they also do vegan and gluten free versions) which was delicious but honestly I had no interest in food when I was surrounded by cats.

Lots of the older cats were fairly chill, wandering about between tables and sleeping, but it was the litter of three-month old kittens that stole the show. They were bouncy and playful and so cute I just wanted to eat them. On the floor is every kind of scratching post, bed and toy you can imagine and the staff encourage you to stroke, cuddle and play with the cats as much as you possibly can. So that's exactly what I did and I was in heaven. Did I mention I like cats?

Like I mentioned before, the whole place is clean and hygienic and everyone is briefed on arrival about how to keep the cats happy: you can smush them to your hearts content as long as you don't pick them up or disturb them while they're eating/sleeping/washing. There's food and water bowls dotted all over so they're never hungry and plenty of hiding places so they can go and sleep in peace. They've also got nifty secret litter trays with special filters so the cats can do their business and the customers don't have to see or smell anything.

The whole place had a warm and happy atmosphere and I could have easily spent hours just sitting on the floor cuddling kittens. Cats have a very calming and relaxing presence so I can imagine it being the perfect place to have a coffee and get some work done with a cat or two curled up next to you. I can't wait to go back!